the pentagon could see roughly half of those reductions and that has republicans upset. >> we're going to begin to unravel the finest military in the history of the world at a time we need it most. >> reporter: mandatory cuts in domestic spending could also hit americans hard. there could be furloughs of food safety employees leading to a shortage of meat poultry, and eggs, and pushing up food prices. 50,000 tsa workers could see their hours cut back. that would mean longer security lines for air travelers. and more than 350,000 people who need mental health treatment could be denied. hundreds of thousands of government workers from teachers to federal law enforcement agents are likely to be furloughed. many republicans admit the sequester isn't ideal, but they insist cuts have to be made. >> let me be very clear, and i'd say this to the president as i say it to you -- these spending cuts are going to go through on march 1. >> reporter: the white house warns the cuts would get phased in just as the stock market is bouncing back. >> our hope is that this does not happen. that we choose